The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is hosting the 2024 Kosmos Innovation Center Agritech Challenge Classic Zonal Pitch.

The KIC Agritech Challenge aims to foster innovation in agriculture among students and aspiring entrepreneurs. The competition encourages participants to develop creative solutions to pressing agricultural challenges, ultimately leading to the establishment of viable businesses.

The 2024 Zonal Pitch will feature ninety-three teams from five different institutions: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Kwadaso Agricultural College (KAC), and Ejura Agricultural College and Mechanization Center (EACMC).

Professor James Osei Mensah, Faculty Advisor of the Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) Agritech Challenge at KNUST, believes the challenge will inspire the creation of businesses.

“At the end of this day, we expect that there will be thriving business ideas that aim at solving agricultural problems, and by solving these problems, they create businesses, employ themselves, and employ others,” he said.

Prof. Osei Mensah added, “The Agritech Challenge is solving agric problems on any aspect of the value chain, from the input stage until the product gets to the consumer. We have some participants who are using agricultural waste to produce feeds and sanitary pads; others are into processing, converting raw forms of perishable commodities; and others provide technological solutions by creating platforms for transactions. The ideas are diverse, but all must be related to agriculture.”

The Program Manager of Kosmos Innovation Center, Mrs. Terence Tienaah, mentioned that by prioritizing innovation and technology, farmers can adapt to challenges posed by climate change and build capacity among the youth.

“The program does not only seek to identify ideas but also to build the capacity of young people to consider agriculture as a profession and explore vocations within the agric value chain while nurturing sustainable businesses.”

“Working with young people has brought innovation and technology, and is also helping farmers to adapt and develop resilient ways to cope with climate change, which is now the new normal in the space,” she said.

The KIC Agritech Challenge is a partnership between the Kosmos Innovation Center (KNUST), sixteen tertiary institutions, with funding from the Mastercard Foundation.